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Published on: October 27, 2014
Biweekly paclitaxel in patients with metastatic breast cancer
Tatsuya Toyama1, Hiroko Yamashita, Yasuo Hara
1Department of Surgery II, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan. toyamat-ncu@umin.ac.jp
Background:
This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and the toxicity of paclitaxel administered as a biweekly 1-h infusion (120 mg/m2).
Methods:
Twenty patients with metastatic breast cancer were enrolled in this study. Paclitaxel was administered at a dose of 120 mg/m2 by an intravenous 1-h infusion every 2 weeks. The primary objectives of the study were the response rate and toxicity. Pharmacokinetic analysis was conducted in 7 of the 20 patients treated with paclitaxel.
Results:
Four of the 20 patients had grade 3 or 4 neutropenia. Arthralgia or myalgia was observed in 8 of the 20 patients. Grade 2 or 3 neurotoxicity was observed in 6 of the 20 patients. In the 20 assessable patients, there was one complete response and eight partial responses. The overall response rate was 45%. The mean time to progression was 5.4 months.
Conclusions:
Biweekly paclitaxel may be suitable for patients receiving paclitaxel for palliative therapy, as tolerance was similar to that with the weekly schedule, but with the advantage of increased convenience.
